KAMPALA, January 17, 2026 – Uganda’s opposition leader Bobi Wine was allegedly seized from his home in a dramatic military helicopter raid on Friday, just hours before President Yoweri Museveni appeared poised to claim a crushing reelection victory.
Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party stated that an army helicopter landed at his compound in Kampala and soldiers “forcibly took him away to an unknown destination.” The claim, posted on X Friday evening, could not be immediately verified by Reuters, and government and military spokespeople have not responded to requests for comment. Some senior NUP officials said they lacked independent confirmation.
The dramatic development came as Wine, who has alleged widespread fraud in Thursday’s vote, remained under effective house arrest amid a nationwide internet blackout.
With votes from more than half the polling stations counted, the Electoral Commission reported President Museveni – in power since 1986 – holding a commanding 74% of the vote late Friday. Wine trailed with roughly 23%. No final results have been declared, but Museveni’s path to another term looks all but assured.
Wine has denounced the election as rigged and urged supporters to protest peacefully. International observers and rights groups have criticised the internet shutdown, pre-election arrests, and reports of intimidation.
Thursday’s voting was largely calm despite a campaign marked by clashes and UN-documented repression. However, deadly violence erupted overnight in Butambala district, 55 km southwest of Kampala.
Police said opposition supporters armed with machetes attacked a police station and vote-tallying centre, prompting officers to fire in self-defence. Opposition MP Muwanga Kivumbi gave a starkly different account, claiming security forces stormed his home at 3 a.m. and killed 10 people gathered to await parliamentary results.
Independent verification of the conflicting reports has not been possible.
As Uganda awaits final results and clarity on Bobi Wine’s whereabouts, tensions remain sky-high in the East African nation. Museveni, 81, presents himself as the guarantor of stability; Wine, 43, has mobilised a youthful population hungry for change. Whether this election ends in quiet acceptance or further unrest hangs in the balance.
